Around The Globe At The Underglobe

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Monday 2 November 2026

Sparkling Networking Reception 6pm
Gala Dinner & Awards 7pm
Post-Gala Bar & Networking 11pm

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Presenting Partners

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The Underglobe

At Shakespeare’s Globe
London’s Bankside
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Tickets

Industry Ticket: £249+VAT [Purchase]
Industry Table (10): £2449+VAT
Last few remaining tables…

Tickets & Tables Are Selling Fast

The BGTW is delighted to announce that our 2026 event of the year, the glitzy BGTW Annual Gala Awards Dinner (AGAD), will be celebrated in an immersive style at the Underglobe at Shakespeare’s Globe on London’s Bankside. As usual, it will provide a spectacular start to World Travel Market week, held on WTM-eve, Monday 2nd November.

Tickets Include:

  • Sparkling Network Reception
  • Three-Course Dinner with Wine
  • BGTW Members’ Excellence Awards
  • BGTW International Tourism Awards and BGTW PR Recognition Awards
  • Post-Gala Networking Bar & Dancing
  • On-The-Night Raffle: Opportunity to Support Our Nominated Charity & Win Fantastic Prizes
  • A Few Surprises
  • Option to Upgrade to a Table of 10: Host your team, or gift some seats to host talented BGTW media members
Order your tickets or tables

Presented in partnership with Discover South Carolina and Explore Charleston

The BGTW would like to express our sincere gratitude to our dear friends and 2026 presenting partners: Discover South Carolina & Explore Charleston.

C. Douglas Warner, Executive Vice President of Special Projects at Explore Charleston, says: “The United Kingdom remains our top international market outside North America, and the talented members of the Guild have played a significant role in that success. We’ve been proud partners with the Guild for the past eight years, and it’s been one of the best investments we’ve made in growing awareness of Charleston and South Carolina in the UK market. We’re delighted to once again join the State of South Carolina in supporting the Guild’s Annual Gala and look forward to celebrating with everyone at The Globe this November.”

The BGTW would also like to thank our dinner course partners, Visit San Antonio, and all our award partners, detailed below.

Award Partner Opportunities

BGTW Members Excellence Awards

At the heart of the BGTW Gala Awards Dinner is a celebration of travel media talent. Our Members’ Excellence Awards celebrate the best writing, photography, broadcasts and blogs by our members across 14 individual award categories and four portfolio awards.

During the evening, we also present the BGTW International Tourism Awards, which celebrate tourism projects worldwide that make a difference, and, new for 2026, the BGTW PR Recognition Awards (in partnership with TravMedia), acknowledging PR professionals for adaptability, professionalism and friendliness. Both these award categories are nominated and voted for by BGTW members.

2026 MEA Finalists (Revealed late-September)

BGTW Members Excellence Portfolio Awards

Celebrating travel media excellence across a portfolio of four pieces of work.
BGTW Travel Writer of the Year

BGTW Travel Writer of the Year

Winner TBA

Winner TBA

BGTW Photographer of the Year

BGTW Photographer of the Year

Present this award: email [email protected]
Winner TBA

Winner TBA

BGTW Travel Blogger of the Year

BGTW Travel Blogger of the Year

Presented by Pure Michigan
Winner TBA

Winner TBA

BGTW Travel Broadcaster of the Year

BGTW Travel Broadcaster of the Year

Presented by Gran Canaria
Winner TBA

Winner TBA

BGTW Members Excellence Awards

Celebrating travel media excellence in a single article, blog post, photo feature or broadcast.
Travel Feature of the Year – UK

Travel Feature of the Year – UK

Presented by Discover South Carolina
Travel Feature of the Year – Europe

Travel Feature of the Year – Europe

Present this award: email [email protected]
Travel Feature of the Year – Wider World

Travel Feature of the Year – Wider World

Presented by Explore Charleston
Travel Feature of the Year – UK Regional Media

Travel Feature of the Year – UK Regional Media

Present this award: email [email protected]
Travel Feature of the Year – Travel Trade Media

Travel Feature of the Year – Travel Trade Media

Present this award: email [email protected]
Specialist Travel Feature of the Year

Specialist Travel Feature of the Year

Presented by SKTA St Kitts Tourism Authority
Journey Feature of the Year

Journey Feature of the Year

Present this award: email [email protected]
Sustainability Feature of the Year

Sustainability Feature of the Year

Present this award: email [email protected]
Travel Guide Book of the Year

Travel Guide Book of the Year

Presented by Antor
Travel Narrative Book of the Year

Travel Narrative Book of the Year

Present this award: email [email protected]
Celebrating Diversity Through Storytelling

Celebrating Diversity Through Storytelling

Presented by Visit San Antonio
Travel Photo Feature of the Year

Travel Photo Feature of the Year

Present this award: email [email protected]
Travel Blog Post of the Year

Travel Blog Post of the Year

Present this award: email [email protected]
Travel Broadcast of the Year

Travel Broadcast of the Year

Present this award: email [email protected]
Special Recognition Award

Special Recognition Award

Presented by the BGTW

Charity Raffle Partner: Just a Drop

This year’s fantastic raffle travel prizes (revealed on the night) will whisk you away while raising funds for a worthy cause. Just a Drop is an international water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) charity working to ensure communities have sustainable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. Since 1998, we have reached over 2 million people across 32 countries through locally led projects that transform health, improve educational outcomes, strengthen livelihoods and build resilience to climate change. We currently are working in Cambodia, Kenya, India, Nicaragua, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia delivering sustainable water solutions and community development programmes. 

BGTW PR Recognition Awards 2026

Presented in Partnership with TravMedia

New for 2026, the BGTW will present two certificates of recognition to the PR Professionals (one agency, one in-house) who always work hard to support us. These new special BGTW accolades will celebrate the PR partners who really make a difference to our members, our organisation and the travel industry and are awarded for adaptability, professionalism and friendliness, rather than self-nominated campaign metrics. A small token of thanks from us as travel media to the tourism boards and PRs who support us.

2026 PR Recognition Awards Finalists (Revealed 11th September)

BGTW International Tourism Awards 2026

Launched over 40 years ago, the BGTW International Tourism Awards scheme recognises excellence in tourism projects in three categories.

  • Best UK Tourism Project
  • Best Europe Tourism Project
  • Best Wider World Tourism Project

Guild members really do travel the world, reporting back on projects and initiatives they think deserve notice. Some projects have cost millions and are well-publicised; others are simpler community projects that take just as much effort and love. For the ITA, projects are proposed by members. Once verified, nominated projects are put to a vote among BGTW members.

2026 ITA Finalists (Revealed 11th September)

Partnership Options

This year’s venue is immersive and unique, promising to be a standout setting for our event of the year. As usual, held on the eve of WTM, Monday, 2nd November, it’s an excellent opportunity for destinations and brands to showcase themselves to a top-tier audience.

Partnership options include sponsoring the Members’ Excellence Awards (we are the only travel media organisation in the UK to award our winning members a financial prize) or the BGTW International Tourism Awards. Partners may also choose to donate a raffle prize to raise funds for our nominated charity.

We hope you will join us to put your brand front and centre. Email [email protected] to discuss an award or bespoke partnerships.